Fire-extinguishing apparatus.



c.' H, MUGS. FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.28, 918. L 1,293,853. v Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

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.- Wam 'narran spaans PATENT FFE.

CHARLES n. mares, or PHILADELPHM, rn

NNSYLVANIA, Assrenon ro maoannnews a romans eenzaam?, vor emanan, nswJERSEY, A-conroanrron or Naw mnsnr.

rma-mrrneursnme APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Mmes, acitizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia ,-and State of ennsylvania, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Ex- `l^tinguishing Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specificatie f This invention relates to improvements innre-extinguishing apparatus, pertaining more particularly to apparatusadapted to loperate under foam-extinguishing princlles. f .pThe presentinvention is designed more particularly for the production of a slmpleand efficient apparatus capable of utilizing charges larger in amountthan those generally employed under existing hand extinguishingoperation, whileat the same time providing'for a constructlon which canbe readily transported manually and which is normally in condition for,service operation. In addition, the apparatus Ais of a character whichcan bey readllyrecharged. .To these and other ends, the nature of whichwill be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed,said invention consists in the improved construction fand combination ofparts hereinafter fully d0. described, illustrated inthe accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which i similar reference charactersindlcate similar parts in each of the views: a Figure 1 is a view partlyin sidel elevation and artly in section showing. a preferred em odimentof the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionallfragmentaryview showing more particularly the lgeneral structure andarrangement of parts. in existing apparatus operating underfoam-extinguishing principles, the extinguishing medium 1s provided bytwo solutions which are normally separated and are brought intocommixing relation at the time y.when the foam is to be produced, theseveral' 'solutions being enerall of acid and soda content, one or oth othe solutions carrying an element which is active in the roductlon ofthe foam. Suitable formulas o'aefextinguishing compositions for theSpecication of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. il, 1919. Application filedFebruary 28, 1918. Serial No. 219,599.

4purpose are indicated in the patent to Walker, N o. 1,16l,Q9(-%,although the strength of the solutions may vary from the particularpercentages indicated in this patent, this variation being particularlypossible in connection with the present invention where provision ismade to take care of conditions arising where the acid solution is of ahigher strength than that indicated in the said patent.

In the present invention, in which the structure is more or less of theself-con,- tained type, the soda solution is contained 1n an beingcontained in an inner container 11, the latter being located withinreceptacle 10, 're ceptacle l0 preferably carrying a two-part cover 10,the two parts being hingedlyl connected at a suitable point at the top,thus providing a permanent cover portion and a swinging cover portionhinged to. the fixed cover part. Obviously, the cover `arrangement maybe varied' from that shown to meet the particularpform in which theinvention is to be embodied.

' Both the receptacle and container are of the open-top type and thesolution contents outer receptacle 10, the acid solution carried by'eachis normally free from pressure, the cover structure being designedmainly toA restrict deterioration and evaporation of the contents whilethe apparatus is inactive, it being understood that the invention isdesigned to produce an apparatus which is prepared in advance of thetime of `psc, being more in a nature of a prepared apparatus ready foruse when Such use is necessary.

Container 11 may be permanently secured within receptacle 10 -as byriveting of the respective bottoms, and atany desired point therein,although'thisis not essential, since 1t is possible to employ a loosecontainer having a vertical length substantially equal to the internallength of receptacle 10, this being possible especially .where the coveris of the general type indicated inl the pres- Ient drawings, it beingpossible to shift the inner container to a position beneath the hingeline of the cover and vthus hold the container from material endwisemovement, the container being held against material shifting by theparticular form of pumping structure or instrumentality employed andwhich is presently described. In such case,

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the container may be positioned off-center relative to the receptacle,this being more or less immaterlal so long as the location will' permitof ready feeding of the soda` solution to the pumping leg which isadapted to draw from this solution. Obviously, Where the container isoff this particular type, the particular location of the pumping legsmay determine the relative location of this inner container; and thismay be true even Where the container is secured in position. i I

The solutions are removed from the receptacle and container by the useof a pumping instrumentality formed with two legs 12 and 13 dependingfrom a body portion 14, the latter having a chamber 14 into which thesolutions are drawn and within which they are brought into commxingrelation, body portion 14 having an opening 14 which forms the outletfrom this mixing chamber. The outlet is adapted to receive one end of ahose connection 15 of suitable length, the free end of which may carry anozzle 16.

The body portion 1s normally located above the cover and is thereforeexposed,

legs 12 and 13 extending through the cover to a point adjacent thebottoms of the receptacle and container, the body portion preferablyresting on the cover, thereby controlling the depth to which the legsmay extend within the receptacle and container. Body portion 14 maycarry a steadyng device 17 which contacts with the exterior of thereceptacle, and a strap or clip lS may be provided within thereceptaclel for restricting movements of the legs when the pump is inposition.

Any suitable form of pump structure may be employed, that shown inconnection with the legs, being in the form of an outer tubular member asecured at its upper end to the body portion and having a cap l) at ltslower end, said cap-haring an opening 7) controlled by a suitable hall cmounted iu a cage c', the ball formingl a' valve to control opening bduring the plunpiug operation. The pump piston structure is shown as inthe form of a'tubular member 1-formiug a stemwhich extends lengthwisewithin member (I and ])asses through the mixing chau'tber, the outer endol member 1/ projecting above the body portion und being connected to ahuudle l'ti. Ieinher l carries a member c having an opening c controlledby a ball f. Suitable packing is pro-vided to form a piston structure.

The le(r structures are substantial duplicates, eat-.h practicallyconstituting a pumping unit, the units preferably. although notessentially, dill'eriug as to electire crosssectionaltareas, thediameters ol leg l, beil'igilarger than those ol' leg l2. Where thisditference is present, a greater amount of and cap b, this solution thenbeing passed through opening e into the interior of members d, fromwhich the solutions pass outv through opening d in member (l info the`space between members d and a above the piston, the solutions thenpassing through openings g in the body portion into the mixing chamber,the respective openings g being properly proportioned in order toaccommodate for the differences. in amounts which are being moved, bythe piston movements. v

l As will be understood, the solutions are maintained substantiallyseparateuntil they pass through the respectivev openings g, bothsolutions being discharged into this mixing cliambera'vhere commixing t`iu s place and the foam is generated, this latter being forced-throughthe pumping. action and through the action of the pressure produced bythe mixing action itself-out through the hose section to the point ofuse. rlfhe hose section is of medium length and inasmuch as the entireapparatus is capable of being rapidly carried about, it will beunderstood that the time elapsing from the start of the mixing action tothe actual discharge of the foam from the nozzle is short, so that thelife of the bubble formation is not materially reduced, this latterbeing an important factor owing to the fact that the maximum life of thebubbles is comparatively short.

Obviously, the handle can be manipuerator who is readily able todetermine the necessary speed to produce efficient results throughnoting the character of the bubble formation being discharged as Well asby the resistance which may be afforded by back pressure when an attemptis made to operate at an excessive speed.l Hence it is possible topractically take care of the peculiar. etl'ects which are present byreason of the expansion action which takes place dur ing the formationof the bubbles, the operator being able, to feel the resistance, andthus being able to restrict'damage to the bubble formation such as mightbe produced by attempting to force .discharge through I are This manualopmesses placed alone on the pressure developed-by the commixing action,since a skilled operpractical development of uniform pressure.

Withinthe comparatively small mixing chamber, thus enabling thedischarge of the foam formation Without deteriorating e'ects which mightbe present when attempting to force the foam through the restricted hoseconduit under an excessive pressure.

A structure of this general type capable of carryin five or sin gallonsof solutions can be readily handledn and carried about. 'As this amountof solutions Will provide an aqueous blanket of a considerable area, itWill be understood that the structure is one which is adapted for useunder general conditions and can be quickly placed into operation. y

As will be understood,tlie'particular arrangement is such as will takecare of 'the peculiar conditionswhich are inherent 1n the production anddelivery of the foam formation, conditions which difi'er very materiallyfrom those present in the formation of the usual acid and soda chemicalcompound or in other chemical extinguishing mediums. Only the necessaryamount of. separate solutions is brought into com-.

mixing relation and 'commixtu're results in the formation of amultiplicity of bubbles of comparatively short life, and the mosteective results of the formation are had when the bubbles are deliveredto the point of use as soon as possible after the formaeither throughbreaking down of the bubb tion and free from material deterioration.Deterioration may also result from excessive pressure in attempting toforce delivery,

e formation due to such pressure xor excessive friction between thebubbles and the conduit and nozzle. rihese are difficulties which do notarise Where the chemical extinguishing medium does not mation.

.Obv1ously, the receptacle and container provide the foam formaybe ofrelative sizes as to permit solu-v tions of equal strength in which casethe legs of the pump are preferably of equal cross-sectional area. ndWhile I have shown a particular form of pump unit structure, i-t will beunderstood that the showing of the specific pump structure is more orless illustratiye, and other forms of structure I' may be. employed ifdesired.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be understood that changes and modiiicationstherein may be found desirable or necessary in meeting 'the variousexigencias of' use or individual preferences,

ner and outer receptacles adapted to nor-- mally carry the componentsolutions of the 1 extinguishing medium separate and free from pressure,and a. pumping instrumentality having a hollow body portion andindependent legs depending from the body portion, saidbody portionconstituting a mixing chamber for the solutions and havingadischargevoutlet, said legs extending into the respective receptaclesand each comprising a pumping unit discharging into the mixing chamberand operative to raise the solution of the receptacle into which itextends to said chamber, and means connecting said units to permitmanual manipulation thereof in unison.

2. In fire-extinguishing apparatus of the character described and incombina-tion, inner and outer receptacles adapted to normally, carry thecomponent solutions of the vextinguishing medium separate and free tionthereof in unison, said units-didering in effective cross-sectional area`to pinv'de concurrent delivery of solutions to the cha, ber inproportionate amounts.

3. In lire-extinguishing ap aratus of the character described and in comination, inner and outer receptacles adapted to normally carry thecomponent solutions of the extinguishing medium separate and free fromressure, and a pumping instrumentality iaving a hollow body portion andindependent legs depending from the bodyv portion, said body portionconstituting a mix-' ing chamber for the solutions and having adischarge outlet, said legs extending into the respective 'receptaclesand each comprising a pumping unit discharging into the mixing chamberand operative to raise the solution of the receptacle into which itextends to said chamber, and means connecting said units to permitmamlal manipulation thereof l rate and free from pressure, and a pumpinginstrumentality having a hollow body poition mounted above one of saidCover parts and having independent legs depending from the body portionthrough said cover and into -tlie respective receptacles, said bodyportion constituting a mixing chamber for the solutions and having adischarge outlet, said legs each comprising a pumping unit discharginginto the mixing chamber and operative to raise the solution of thereceptacle into which it extends to said chamber, each unit including areciprocating piston-like element having its stem extending through saidchamber and projecting above the body portion, and a handle connectinvrthe projecting portions of said stems, W iereby nianuah manipulation ofthe handle to reciprocate the stems will provide delivery of individualsolutions concurrently to the mixing chainber.

5. In fire-extinguishing apparatus of the character described and incombination, an outer receptacle having a two-part cover with the partshingedly connected, an inner receptacle having an open-top and normallyunderlying the hinge connection, said receptacles being adapted'to carrythe component solutions of the extinguishing medium separate and freefrom pressure, and a pumping instrumentality having .a hollow bodyportion mounted above one of said cover parts and having independentlegs depending from the body portion through said cover and into therespective receptacles, said body portion constituting a mixing chamberfor the solutions and having a discharge outlet, said legs eachcomprising a pumping unit dise charging into the mixing chamberandoperative to raise the solution of the receptacle into which itlextends to said chamber, each unit including a reciprocatingpiston-like elenient having its stem extending through said chamber andprojecting above the body portion, and a handle connecting theprojecting portions of said stems, whereby manual manipulation of thehandle to reciprocate.

the stems Will provide delivery of individual solutions concurrently tothe mixing chainber, said units differing from each other in eectivecross-sectional area to provide concurrent delivery of the solutions indefinite proportioned amounts.

6. In lire-extinguishing apparatus of the 'character described and iiicombination, ad-

jacent receptacles of different volumes adapt ed to normally carry 'thecomponent solntions of a foam-producing {ire-extinguishing mediumseparate and free from pressure, and an associated pumpinginstrumentality having a hollow body portion and independ-- ent legsdepending from'the body portion, said body portion constituting a mixingchamber for the solutions and having a discharge outlet,'said legsextending into the respective receptacles and each constituting apumping unit discharging into the mixing chamber and operating to raisethe solution of thc receptacle into which it extends to said chamber,said units differing in effective cross-sectional area, the unit ofsmaller area entering the receptacle of lesser volume, and

means connecting said units to permit maiiiial manipulation thereof inunison whereby properly proportionate amounts of the two solutions areconcurrently delivered into the mixing chamber.

In testimony whereof I liaveihereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES II. MEIGS.

Witnesses:

E. JANAWAY, 4 F, D. OennN.

